At the 3A State Championsip game in Anchorage, senior Finn Gregg dribbled upcourt. He glanced over at his longtime coach, Patrick Callahan, who barked out a play.
“Fresno, Fresno!” Callahan yelled.
Gregg surveyed the court and waved his hand — like the conductor of an orchestra —to set his teammates into the right positions. Countless hours off the court distilled into a split second as Gregg flicked the ball over to 6-4 forward, Cohen Booth, as he moved into open space.
Booth fired off a shot, burying a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter.
Booth’s score was one of several body blows to the tiring lineup of Sitka Wolves. Going into the final quarter, the Nanooks lead was just 5 points. The Nanooks kept their foot on the gas through the fourth, outscoring the Wolves by 14 points en route to a 62-43 win.
Coach Callahan said it was Nome-Beltz’s attitude that made the difference.
“Our guys wanted to press them in the full court and get after them and and junk up the game and make it chaotic," Callahan said. "A big part of that pressing mindset mode is to have guys that are willing to come out of the game even in the first quarter, starters, you know, to rest and let other guys get in there. “
But Callahan said one more thing made a big difference.
“Well, we got Finn Gregg, and they don't," Callahan said.
The senior is headed to University of Alaska Fairbanks next year on a basketball scholarship. But he’d be the first to tell you his success wouldn’t be possible without his teammates.
“I just thought about all the hours I've spent with these guys by myself in the summers, in the spring after the season," Gregg said. "You know, it's not been all wins. It's been losses, too.”
Losses like in 2023, when Grace Christian thumped the Nanooks 64-33 in the state finals. The team rebounded in 2024 with a buzzer-beater from now-senior Orson Hoogendorn to get the win against Mt. Edgecumbe.
Gregg said the goal all season has been returning to – and reclaiming – the state championship for a second consecutive year.
“And I just thought like, well, do I want to go home with a feeling like in 2023 or do I want to go home with a feeling like last year, and just the guys were on the same boat as me, so we made it happen," Gregg said.
The Nanooks earned their third state championship in four years with some help off the court too. Family, friends, classmates, and alumni packed the Alaska Airlines Center. Scores of fans passionately chanted “defense” even as victory was imminent.
Among them was Koonuk Angusuc, who traveled with the team all season to watch his son, Kevin Ongtowasruk. The sophomore picked up a knee injury in the quarterfinal against Hutchison High School.
As the team celebrated below, Angusuc stared out over the court.
“I'm speechless. [Kevin] kept going, didn't give up. Worked hard, played as a team member," Angusuc said.
The team then lined up to accept its championship trophy to roars from the crowd.
“The 2025 3A Basketball State Champions, please welcome the Nome Nanooks!" the arena's announcer said.
The team then took turns lumbering up a ladder to snip small pieces of net to keep as mementos.
For the fifth time this season, the team returned to the Anchorage Airport Sunday for the return trip to Nome. This time, blue black and white balloons lined the jetbridge. Before boarding, an Alaska Air employee congratulated the team on their achievement.
“To the Nome varsity boys basketball! The defending champs, second year in a row," the employee said as cheers rang out at the gate. "We’re very proud of you.”
On the ground in Nome, the team waited at the back of the plane to make a grand entrance. The team descended the stairs with “We are the Champions” playing on a boombox. They posed for a quick photo before making their way into an even-more-packed-than-usual Nome Airport lobby.
With police sirens blaring, car horns honking, and people cheering, the team boarded a school bus for a quick tour of town. In subzero temps, residents lined the streets with handmade signs as the team took turns showing off the trophy through windows on the bus.
While it wasn’t the team’s first time accomplishing a state title, it was the last time Gregg and Hoogendorn will do it as Nome-Beltz Nanooks.
“Just thankful that Finn Gregg got to go out this way and Orson. It's such an easy team to coach, and they're such good guys and good athletes, and they play super hard for you," Callahan said.
The varsity team is expected to return eight players next season.
